Fight over the remote control and friendship bracelets: Prince William's rare confidences about George, Charlotte and Louis

“Never go home empty-handed.” It is one of the mottos of prince William as a father. He said this during a visit to the NFL Foundation, which helps boys and girls living in the most vulnerable areas of the UK, when he was given a rugby ball to take home to his children, the princes George et Louis and the Princess Charlotte. “They will really appreciate it,” he added. As far removed as they may seem from the daily and “normal” life of each of us, William and Kate MiddletonPrince and Princess of Wales, liked to keep moments of family life for themselves, as they often told and showed in photos published on social networks. One of them shows Charlotte and Louis sitting next to each other as they watch the Euro football final last June.

Arguments, too, are common to many brothers and sisters of all ages. The argument over who holds the remote control when watching television is an eternal one. At a film and TV event, William joked that his three children are constantly fighting over control of the remote: Even for princes, watching a movie together is no easy task. This statement also applies to friendship bracelets. Princess Charlotte first wore them to the opening night of Taylor Swift's tour in London, which she attended with her father and older brother George, who himself wore one on the day of his eleventh birthday. The whole royal family seems to be so fond of them that during a visit to a school in Wales, Prince William received bracelets from a student for his children. “Thank you very much Ruby. They will love them, you will see them everywhere,” thanked the Prince of Wales, before adding: “I will keep them away from Louis, because he will try to steal them from his sister.”

The importance of simplicity

There is no shortage of ironic jokes that make children laugh (to tell one, Prince William made a cow noise), but there are also ways to manage the tension of test day. In June, during a commemoration of the Landings in Portsmouth, the Prince of Wales explained the reason for his daughter's absence: “Charlotte is at school, she has exams today. She was looking forward to them this morning. » Then, in a superstitious gesture, he crossed his fingers.

William and Kate prove that, despite the ceremonies and protocols, their upbringing is also based on simplicity. Even in the midst of their royal engagements, they manage to find space for games, routine family rituals and banter. And maybe that’s what makes them so authentic.

Originally published by Vanity Fair Italy